Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for May 22-24
Friday, May 22
Best Bet: CAN'T FOOL ME (6)
Best Value: NOD TO TRAN (8)
FIRST: Outlaw Annie fired crisp half-mile drill to conclude work tab; best guess. Miss Money Pants is another with swift drill in final work; must consider. Beach Life owns win-early breeding; be no surprise.
SECOND: Apalta gets class relief after wide fifth in last; improvement predicted. Petrolo is training swiftly for first start in more than a year; very interesting. Grand Commander owns a win and a second in two starts since returning from freshener; must be factored into the mix.
THIRD: Stillthinkingofyou tallied solid late-pace figure when winning last at Tampa Bay; ready for prime time. Notable Exchange exits non-stressful fifth in last at Gulfstream; dangerous. I'm Buzzy moves to turf with fast dirt numbers; mixed message.
FOURTH: Windsor Gold makes quick return and packs potent late kick on "A" efforts. Gypsy Dreaming is speedy and could prove very tough to catch on a soft lead. Curvino should pack enhanced wallop with cutback to 7 furlongs.
FIFTH: Alma's Law gets class relief and returns to dirt; forward move predicted. Quell drops into maiden claimer and moves to main track after non-threatening ninth in debut; very interesting. My Girl Aubree regressed last time after three solid efforts; bounce-back potential.
SIXTH: Can't Fool Me was compromised by slow splits when a game second last out; more to give. Downtown Channel exits front-running score in last; very dangerous. Scythian was a flat fourth when odds-on in same last race as top selection; more than good enough on best.
SEVENTH: Over and Ollie is 2-for-2 at the distance; stalking style seals the deal. Raise the Bar could play out as the speed of the speed with addition of blinkers. El Grande O was freshened after hard-fought win on April 2; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Nod to Tran was a useful fifth in first start since ix-month layoff; breakthrough at fat price predicted. Oligarch was a solid second in last; must consider. Two Ducks was just a half-length behind Oligarch after racing wide on the turn; right in the thick of this. Urgency should improve with return to grass; don't overlook.
Saturday, May 23
Best Bet: GLORIOUS BOY (7)
Best Value: SOONTOBEKING (10)
FIRST: Hafu has been gelded and gets Lasix for first start since moving to Linda Rice barn; ready. Charlie Charmer was an ultra-game second in last; dangerous. Gaborone makes quick return and switches back to grass; wake-up potential.
SECOND: Feroce gets blinkers and Lasix and projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Lifes Reward runs late and could be in the garden spot if top selection wilts. Capt Fluff and Stuff drops and moves to dirt for Chad Brown; be no surprise.
THIRD: Whitby was done in by pace pressure last time; softer flow predicted. Noguchi finally found the winner's circle after 11 tries last out; repeat potential. Red Miller makes quick return after failing to fire when 89 cents on the dollar on May 9; must consider.
FOURTH: Five Dozen Roses was a hard-charging second in last; needs scratches to escape AE list. Fairy Godmother drilled twice since improved third in last. Froghollowsummer is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Raynham Hall should benefit from cutback to sprint.
FIFTH: My First Love makes first start since claimed after willing second in last. Jackie the Joker was a front-end winner at this price three starts back; dangerous. Ah Ca Ira should be aided by class drop; price will be tempting.
SIXTH: Peak Performer logged five tight works for first start in eight weeks; primed. Orgonite was a useful fourth after returning from eight-month layoff last time; worth long look. Versailles Road could be favorably positioned near the front in bulky field.
SEVENTH: Glorious Boy should pack amplified kick with cutback to 6 furlongs; owns a win and a second in two starts on Big A sod. Intricate Spirit owns speed and adds blinkers; very interesting. Track Tiger ships in from SoCal for Doug O'Neill; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Waitlist was rested after hard-charging score on April 4; picks up where he left off. Le Gris could play out as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Whittingham Park could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
NINTH: Carc Brothers was a front-running winner in debut and could have sufficient speed to overcome tough post. Kulapat packs potent late kick on best efforts; dangerous. Madagascar makes third start of form cycle after second to a repeat winner in last; right in the thick of this.
TENTH: Soontobeking should move forward after non-stressful fifth in first start since nine-month absence last time. Cuando is fleet-footed and could prove tough to collar on soft lead. Masseto is fresh and logs swift number on best races. Niagara Skyline packs potent late wallop on "A" efforts.
Sunday, May 24
Best Bet: AWESOME EMPIRE (9)
Best Value: A.P. SLINGSHOT (6)
FIRST: Timbertop concluded work tab with swift half-mile drill; best guess. Shining Moment, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, was a clear-cut second in debut; be no surprise. Liam's Law is from a dam that has produced a turf winner; must consider.
SECOND: Solo Jim compiled tight work tab for first start since last fall; ready. Aristide Maillol drops and returns to dirt; dangerous. Boom Shocka Boom is training sharply for debut for Wes Ward; could be the goods.
THIRD: Moon Gate could play out as the main speed with heads-up handling. Calling an Audible will be in the catbird seat if top selection hits the wall. Pocket Queens should improve with return to dirt; worth long look.
FOURTH: Highway Harmony is speedy and riding a three-race winning streak. Linarite packs potent late kick and has benefit of the rail; big-time player. Lil' Regard is another that runs late; must be factored into the mix.
FIFTH: Defining Role drops, adds blinkers and moves to dirt; sitting on wake-up. Kay Road was an even fourth in the slop last out; dangerous on dry land. Kef lost a head bob for all the money when 68-1 last out; big-priced player once again.
SIXTH: A.P. Slingshot tallied fast late-pace figure when winning last start; crisp half-mile drill in the interim seals the deal. Our Preferred Pal was a front-running maiden winner last out; dangerous. Scarlett's Dream, another last-race winner, fired two bullet drills in the interim; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Starlight Dancer was pace compromised when an even fifth in last; forward move predicted. Brokealltherules owns sprinter's speed and could capitalize on soft lead. Princess Summer packs potent late kick on best efforts; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Mentee was a change-of-pace third in last; crisp half-mile drill on May 17 is the clincher. What's Up Bro is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Antisocial is firing bullets for first start since October; very interesting.
NINTH: Awesome Empire returns to dirt and looms the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Military Road is riding a two-race winning streak; big-time threat. Secured Landing has won three of last four; very dangerous. Gunner Bay makes first start for Rudy Rodriguez after determined win in last; must be factored into the mix.
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